County approves dispatch contracts

The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners on Thursday approved a series of contracts for 911 radios and equipment needed to launch the new joint dispatch center.

The contracts included a new $137,391 radio system and more than $27,000 in equipment.

The dispatch center will be located on the second floor of the jail administration building and house three different stations - one more than it has now.

Each contract will be split between the city and the county. The county will cover 55 percent of all expenses, while the city will pick up 45 percent of the bill. The operating budget will run on the same format.

The county's portion of the contract already has been set aside by the County Council.

For the radio, 911 Director John Hendrix said the county and city will use $100,000 in existing 911 funds - which come from the state - and then split the remaining expenses. The system will be installed by J&K Communications of Indianapolis.

Also in the switch to central dispatch, EmergiTech will provide new software to allow dispatchers and emergency callers a text option. The software will cost $3,605.

The commissioners also approved a contract with Indigital Telecom for $22,715 for a new 911 computer work station, and then $5,999.96 to AFC Industries for a dispatch console used for computer monitors.

Also at the meeting, the commissioners approved a one-year contract with American Financial Credit Services, a collections agency that assists government bodies in recovering delinquent property tax payments.

Treasurer Linda Greene said Jefferson County has about $175,000 in uncollected property taxes. Under the agreement, American Financial Credit Services will receive 27 percent of the payments received from the delinquent notices.

Greene said the company's rate is high, but added that it will assist in bringing in bills that otherwise would have likely gone unpaid.

The commissioners noted that many of the surrounding counties have contracts with American Financial Credit Services.

In other business:

 The commissioners voted to allow Wanda Welch, the commissioner's clerk, to work on a part-time basis until the end of the year. Welch will not collect health benefits under the agreement.

 Sheriff John Wallace reported that the department expects to have a new K-9 in place by Thanksgiving. Deputy Patrick Finnegan will be the dog's handler and will enroll in special training courses.